Greetings,
Big things are going on at Indiana Tech! In fact, you’re holding one of them in your hands. If it seems
like this issue of Trends is a bit heavier than usual, you’re not imagining things. We’ve added several
pages of stories and photos to help keep you informed and in touch.
While we’re beefing up each issue of Trends, we’ve also decided to switch from four issues a year to
three in order to cut down on mailing costs and focus on making each issue better. However, you can
stay connected between issues by signing up for our e-newsletter, The Tech Aluminati. If you would
like to receive it, please send an e-mail to alumni@indianatech.edu.
I think you’ll enjoy this expanded Trends. It includes coverage of our wonderful Homecoming celebration, including the dedication of the Wilfred Uytengsu, Sr. Center and the 80th Anniversary Gala. I
always enjoy talking with alumni who visit, but there is something especially heartwarming about seeing so many old friends reconnect and marvel at how far their university has come.
This issue also includes great news about the growth we’re enjoying, from enrollment to new housing to
new locations for the College of Professional Studies. These are all positive signs of how we are thriving.
As we continue our transformation into a comprehensive university, our new vice president of academic affairs will take the lead in shaping our academic profile. Learn more about Dr. Dennis Gayle and his
vision on Page 20.
It’s a very exciting time to be part of the Indiana Tech community. I can’t wait to learn what the future
holds for us.
Sincerely,

Trends is published three times
a year for alumni, students,
faculty, staff, and friends of
Indiana Tech by the university’s
Creative Services department
and Office of Institutional Advancement.

Director of Marketing
Marketing Specialist

Graphic Designer
Executive Director of
University Communications

260.422.5561 or 800.937.2448,
extension 2219
e-mail: alumni@indianatech.edu.
The editors reserve the right
to edit articles for length and
clarity. Articles may be reproduced with permission and
proper attribution.

Michael Peterson

Director of Alumni Relations

Volume 7, Issue 1

Fall 2010

1

Tech Happenings

Annual Convocation Focuses on Tradition
Indiana Tech has been steadily increasing campus
activities and establishing new traditions in recent
years, and this year’s convocation theme, “Tradition
Begins with Me,” alluded to those new traditions.
The ceremonial event on August 31 opened with Dr.
Dennis J. Gayle, vice president of academic affairs,
welcoming students to the new academic year and
encouraging them to strive for their highest personal
goals and ambitions.
President Arthur Snyder addressed the topic of
tradition, likening the Indiana Tech community to a
family with memories built around rituals and events
that have special meanings.
“It’s a cliché—or maybe just a tradition—to say that
your college years will be the most memorable years
of your lives. But it’s true,” he told the crowd of students. “This is your university, and this is your time.
Be an active participant in shaping the traditions that
will define your college years.”
Gayle then introduced a new tradition of having a
distinguished alum speak at the annual convocation. This year’s speaker was Irvin J. Kontowsky, who
earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering management technology at Indiana Tech in 1994 and
returned to earn an MBA in 2000. He is currently
warehouse and shipping manager at Omega Plastics
Corporation in Elkhart, Ind.

Alum Irvin J.
Kontowsky

2

Trends

Kontowsky reflected on being an average student
in high school, getting by on minimal effort, and
realizing that wouldn’t work in college. He credited
Dean Russell Primrose, former dean of the College of
Engineering, with helping him get on the right track.
“He made me realize how important the role of planning is in personal and professional life,” Kontowsky
said. He advised students to have a plan for reaching
their goals. “And your goal right now is college—
graduating college.”
Each year’s convocation closes with the Leepoxy
Plastics Award for Teaching Innovation, established by Larry Lee, owner of Leepoxy Plastics and
member of the Indiana Tech Board of Trustees. The
2010 winner was Susan McGrade, associate professor of English. McGrade has been a full-time faculty
member since 2002, and her achievements include
helping to establish the Tech Rewards program to
encourage student participation in campus activities;
co-organizing the 2004 Symposium on Relationshipbased Education; acting as a faculty advisor in the
Tech LEADS program; and contributing to the success of the university’s study abroad program.
Indiana Tech began holding an annual convocation
in 2007 as a means to gather students, faculty, and
staff together to address a topic relevant to personal
and professional development.

University Surpasses Enrollment Goals
Indiana Tech’s impressive growth continued this
year, and the university has passed two significant
enrollment milestones thanks to increases in both
traditional and non-traditional students.
Enrollment of traditional students at the Fort
Wayne campus is 1,025 for the fall semester, breaking a goal of reaching 1,000. With more than 4,400
non-traditional students enrolling in the College of
Professional Studies this year, the total enrollment
for the university has surpassed the 5,000-student
milestone.
“For several years now we’ve looked at 1,000 traditional students and 5,000 total students as
important benchmarks,” said President Arthur E.
Snyder. “We’ve enjoyed tremendous growth over the
past five years or so to reach those goals.”
The enrollment growth has been achieved through
strategic initiatives to become more comprehensive

in both the range of degree programs offered and
the ways in which those programs are delivered.
Recently added degree programs include bachelor’s
degrees in education, criminal justice, biomedical engineering, software engineering, energy engineering,
and organizational leadership; master’s degrees in
organizational leadership, engineering management,
and police administration; and a Ph.D. program in
global leadership. Since the debut of online classes in
fall 2006, the scope of courses and degrees offered
online has grown dramatically, while the College of
Professional Studies continues to develop satellite
campuses in areas of high demand.

Traditional
enrollment:
1,025
CPS
enrollment:
4,419
Total:
5,444a

“Reaching those enrollment milestones is certainly
something to celebrate, but it’s also a signal that it’s
time once again to assess what our future holds,”
Snyder said. “We pride ourselves on being small
enough to focus on building relationships with students and giving them personal attention. We don’t
want to outgrow that.”

TechFest
Launches New
Academic Year
With the Blessid Union of Souls concert
in 2005, Indiana Tech began a tradition
of big events to kick off each school year.
This year, Student Life staged “Light Up
the Night: TechFest 2010,” an illuminating
evening highlighting technology and fun
for the whole community.
About 500 guests from the campus and
surrounding community enjoyed:
›› Performances by music group Unlikely
Alibi, fire jugglers, and other
live performers
›› An interactive fog screen (photo at left)
and light show
›› Carnival and technology-related games
for all ages
›› Free snacks and drinks
›› Giveaways for students, alumni,
employees and community guests

Volume 7, Issue 1

Fall 2010

3

Tech Happenings

Steel Dynamics Gift Energizes New Lab
Education and industry came together for one afternoon when officials from Indiana Tech and Steel
Dynamics, Inc. celebrated the dedication of the Steel
Dynamics Energy Engineering Laboratory on Friday,
August 13.

Aschliman said the lab will focus on solar energy
this year, and three different types of solar-powered
water heaters have been purchased and installed.
Wind power will be the focus in the second year and
biofuels in the third year.

A gift of $300,000 from Steel Dynamics
Foundation, Inc. provided funds to equip the stateof-the-art energy engineering laboratory. The Steel
Dynamics Energy Engineering Laboratory will provide energy engineering students with equipment
for instruction in alternative energy sources such as
wind, solar, geothermal, hydrogen fuel cells, ethanol,
and other biofuels.

The energy engineering degree program includes
an emphasis on business and economic principles
to ensure that graduates can approach energy
efficiency from a cost perspective as well as a scientific perspective.

“I want to thank Steel Dynamics and the foundation
not just for what they have done for Indiana Tech,”
President Arthur E. Snyder said at the dedication ceremony. “They have done so much for Fort
Wayne, its universities and the community, and we
are very grateful.”
Dave Aschliman, dean of the College of Engineering
and Computer Sciences, spoke about the importance
of the energy engineering degree and its focus on
renewable and alternative sources of energy.
“Because of this gift from Steel Dynamics, our energy engineering students will be able to study solar
energy firsthand,” Aschliman said.

4

Trends

Richard Teets, executive vice president for steelmaking and president and chief operating officer
of steel operation, and Kevin Bort, engineering
manager, structural and rail division, represented
Steel Dynamics at the dedication. Teets spoke at the
dedication and lauded Indiana Tech for including
business courses as part of the energy engineering
degree program.
“In the real world, energy solutions must be
technically practical and economically viable,”
he explained.
In addition to the energy engineering degree program, the lab equipment will support coursework
for students in other engineering disciplines such as
electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.

New Year, New Housing:
Warrior Row is Third Facility in Three Years
Indiana Tech celebrated the opening of its sixth
residence facility with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at
Warrior Row on Friday, August 27.
This is the third consecutive academic year in
which the university has built additional campus
housing. The Warrior Row townhouses accommodate 33 students, bringing the total campus
housing capacity to 470.
“We’ve seen enrollment in our traditional program
increase about 60% in the past five years,” Dr. Arthur
E. Snyder, Indiana Tech president, explained. “That
growth combined with the development of more
campus activities and more campus employment opportunities has led to more students wanting to live
on campus.”
Warrior Row consists of seven three-story townhouse-style units. Five of the townhouses have
single-person bedrooms, while two of them have a

combination of single bedrooms and double bedrooms. Each townhouse also features:
›› A furnished living room
›› A half bath on the first floor and full bathrooms on
the second and third floors
›› A kitchen with full-size refrigerator, oven, microwave, dishwasher, and breakfast counter with stools
›› A full-size washer and dryer
›› Individual front and back entrances
“The townhouses give us the chance to experience
true apartment living while being on campus,” student Zach Lamb said at the ribbon cutting.
Warrior Row is intended for sophomores, juniors, and
seniors. Residents are selected based on grade point
average, extra-curricular activities, and class status.
Students interested in living in one of the townhouses in Warrior Row must apply as a group.

Volume 7, Issue 1

Fall 2010

5

Tech Happenings

Munster, New Albany Are Newest CPS Sites
To better serve mid-career learners throughout
Indiana, the College of Professional Studies has combined two satellite locations in northwest Indiana and
established a new satellite in southern Indiana.
Indiana Tech is expanding its facilities in northwest
Indiana by combining the university’s Merrillville and
Hammond locations into one larger, more accessible
site in Munster, Ind.
The College of Professional Studies has offered
classes in the region since 2007 when the university
first opened a site in Merrillville. The Hammond location was added in 2008.
“We’re committed to serving non-traditional students in northwest Indiana, and this new facility
improves our ability to do that,” said Steve Herendeen, vice president for the College of Professional
Studies. “Combining the two smaller classroom sites
gives us greater flexibility in class scheduling to suit
student needs.”

At the other end of the state, the College of Professional Studies opened an office in New Albany
in August.
The Indiana Tech location at 2441 State St. in New
Albany provides space for an admissions representative and a computer lab. Students will initially be
enrolled in online courses. As the demand for on-site
classes grows, classroom space will be added.
“There’s a tremendous need for nontraditional degree
programs in that area,” Herendeen said. “By focusing
on delivering online programs first, we can begin to
meet that need while we grow and learn which degree programs are best suited to classroom delivery
in the Louisville area.”
In addition to northwest Indiana, New Albany, and
the main campus in Fort Wayne, the College of Professional Studies also has locations in Elkhart, Fishers,
Greenwood, Huntington, Indianapolis, Kendallville,
Mishawaka, Plainfield, and Warsaw. Accelerated degree programs are also available online.

The new Indiana Tech facility at 9245 Calumet
Avenue in Munster will have four classrooms and a
computer lab. Classes began at the new location the
week of August 22.

Attendees of Malloris’ presentation also were treated
to an advance screening of a PBS documentary about
the renovation project, “Green Renovation: New
Life for a 19th Century Building.” The documentary
also discusses the history of the building and campus,
but focuses on the renovation project which utilized
energy-efficient design, materials and technology to
save the aging structure. The one-hour documentary
debuted on PBS39 in Fort Wayne on September 30
and will be shown several times again on the local station. It also may air in other markets in the future.

Wayne Landmark

When the university chose to renovate rather than
replace the oldest building on campus, the decision
piqued curiosity into the landmark’s history. Malloris
took on the task of researching and writing about
the campus and the building, going as far back as the
1830s. The result is a small book entitled “The Wilfred Uytengsu, Sr. Center on the Campus of Indiana
Tech: A History of a Fort Wayne Landmark.” The
book was given out to those who attended Malloris’
presentation at Homecoming.

A History of a Fort

The building, which was dedicated as the Wilfred Uytengsu, Sr. Center, was the gathering place for alumni
attending Homecoming events. It also was the star
of a history presentation by Steve Malloris, associate
professor of English.

Sr. Center
The Wilfred Uytengsu,
a Tech
on the Campus of Indian
The Wilfred Uytengsu,

A centerpiece of the Indiana
Tech campus also had a central
role in this year’s Homecoming,
with plenty of buzz surrounding
the newly renovated
administration building.

Steven Malloris

to Receive your copy
of the book and/or documentary
DVD, contact Rose Replogle
at 260.422.5561 ext. 2219
or REReplogle@IndianaTech.edu

Volume 7, Issue 1

Fall 2010

7

HOMECOMING 2010

Dedication Ceremony Honors Uytengsu
Renovated Administration Building is Named
in Honor of Generous Alumnus
Uytengsu’s wife, Bonnie; his children
Fred Jr., Candace, and Michael; and
grandson Christian attended the dedication ceremony.
“His legacy is not just a name on a building,” Snyder said. “His legacy is the
example he set for his children, his grandchildren, and all of us by the way he lived.”
In his remarks at the dedication, Fred
Uytengsu, Jr. said he was certain his father
would have been happy with the renovation and that the scope of the project had
exceeded their expectations.
Indiana Tech paid tribute to a generous
alumnus with the dedication of the Wilfred Uytengsu, Sr. Center during the 80th
Anniversary Gala at this year’s Homecoming. Uytengsu donated $2 million toward
the energy-efficient renovation of the
administration center.
The gift, announced in March 2010, is the
second-largest ever made to the university
by an individual. University officials had
looked forward to showing Uytengsu the
results of his generosity, but he passed
away unexpectedly in April 2010.
“It saddens me that Mr. Fred was taken
from his family too soon, that he did not
live to accompany them here to see what
his philanthropy has brought to Indiana
Tech,” President Arthur E. Snyder said in
addressing about 300 people gathered for
the dedication.
Uytengsu was a 1951 graduate of Indiana Tech with a bachelor’s degree in
chemical engineering. He was chairman
8

of the board of the largest producer
of dairy products in the Philippines,
Alaska Milk Corporation, which he
started in 1972. He served on the
boards of Universal Foods Corporation
of Wisconsin, Kuok Philippine Properties, Inc. and Mandarin Oriental Hotel,
Manila, and was owner of Wentworth
Development Corporation. He was also
the chairman of the Philippine Basketball Association’s Alaska Aces, who
have won 13 championships.
Snyder had corresponded with Uytengsu
for several months before traveling to
the Philippines to meet him in August
2009. The visit left Snyder profoundly
impressed with Uytengsu’s compassion,
integrity, and commitment to hard work
and education.
“I had no idea what an impact that one
visit would have on me,” Snyder said. “Before meeting Mr. Uytengsu I had no idea
how deeply a man could value education
and love learning.”
Trends

The Wilfred Uytengsu, Sr. Center was
built in 1857. The dedication ceremony
marked the culmination of a $3.5 million
renovation of the administration center
which turned the pre-Civil War era building into a showcase of modern energyefficient design, materials, and technology.
The design by Terry Thornsbury of Viridian Architectural Design, Inc. preserved
the historic exterior brick shell of the
building, windows, and door openings

Wilfred Uytengsu, Sr.
1927–2010
Mr. Wilfred Uytengsu, Sr. was a
man revered as much for his philanthropy as he was respected
for his business acumen. Affectionately known as “Mr. Fred” by
the many people who respect
his accomplishments and admire
his kind nature, he was a man
who valued education, hard
work and integrity.

but integrated a new floor and roof
system as well as energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems. A $1.34
million grant from the U.S. Department
of Energy allowed the university to partner with WaterFurnace International on
installation of an innovative geothermal
heating and cooling system as part of the
renovation. The project had an initial
goal of achieving LEED® (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Level Certification, but has exceeded
expectations and has been submitted for
Gold Level Certification.
The building provides space for the
university’s leadership offices and serves
as a living laboratory for the study of
sustainability and energy efficiency.
Indiana Tech offers a bachelor’s degree
in energy engineering, and students and
faculty will conduct research studies on
the facility’s geothermal system. The first
floor of the building includes a Campus
Welcome Center, also named in honor of
Uytengsu. It houses a gathering area for
alumni and visitors, display cases with
artifacts from the university’s history,
and monitors that display information
about the center’s energy usage.
A one-hour PBS documentary chronicling the history of the building and
the renovation process entitled “Green
Renovation: New Life for a 19th Century
Building” will air on WFWA Channel
39 in the Fort Wayne area, and it will
be made available for PBS stations
throughout the country.

“He was a warm, loving and
generous man,” said Indiana
Tech President Arthur Snyder. “I
regret not meeting him sooner
and having more time to get to
know him.
The fifth of twelve children of
Don Tirso Uytengsu and Honey
Tan, he was born in 1927 in
Dumaguete City, Philippines,
and when the family settled in
Manila he finished high school
at Silliman University. He loved learning, a trait he credited his parents with instilling. When he would speak of the road to success he described how the opportunity
to study at U.S. universities added to his appreciation of education. He earned a
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University in 1950 and a
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Indiana Tech in 1951.
Mr. Uytengsu was awarded an honorary doctorate from Silliman University in 2007. In
accepting the honor, he commented on the importance of education.
“In today’s globalized world, an individual with a more diversified education and frame
of mind will be in a better position to contribute and succeed … while an education
does not necessarily guarantee success in the business world, it certainly provides a
foundation for one to start with,” he said in his speech.
After several years working in his parents’ business, he founded General Milling Corporation in the late 1950s and built it into one of the largest food companies in the
Philippines. He also founded Holland Milk Products, Inc. in 1972 and later merged the
two companies to create the Alaska Milk Corporation, the largest producer of dairy
products in the Philippines.
Mr. Uytengsu served as the chairman and CEO of AMC and on the boards of Universal
Foods Corporation of Wisconsin; Kuok Philippine Properties, Inc.; the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Manila; and a number of philanthropic organizations. He was the owner
of Wentworth Development Corporation and was the chairman of the Philippine
Basketball Association’s Alaska Aces, who have won 13 championships, a fact in which
he took great pleasure.
“The best business plan without the effort is just a dream,” he once said. “Once one
has started a business, one can only succeed by working harder and at a faster rate
than one’s competitor.”
Amidst the demands of business, though, he cherished his family: his wife, the
former Bonnie Brooks; their children Wilfred Jr., Candice, and Michael; and their
beloved grandchildren.

Volume 7, Issue 1

Fall 2010

9

HOMECOMING 2010

Brothers to the End!
When the fraternity brothers
of Theta Xi reunited in
Williamsport, Pa., at the end
of July, it was just like old times.
Even though most of the brothers
had not seen each other in years,
there was still a bond that had
never really been broken.
Plans for this incredible gathering of brothers and
their spouses or significant others began in October 2009. Theta Xi brother Blaise Alexander was in
California visiting his daughter who is studying to be
a doctor. While on this trip, he met up with fellow
brothers Jack Rosenthal and Mike Hayzer. After a
few drinks, hearty laughter, and stories from the past,
these three began thinking that it would be a blast
to reunite with other Theta Xi brothers. As they discussed the names of people to invite, they decided not
to limit invitations to people they knew, but to open
up the reunion to all brothers of Theta Xi.

rumor has it that one of the brothers may have been
pocketing a few for himself.
While the entire Pennsylvania summer was sweltering
hot with high humidity, the brothers dialed up the
perfect weather weekend at the end of July. Temperatures hovered around 80 degrees, the humidity
dropped, and the skies stayed clear. With many
outdoor activities planned, this positive change in the
weather signaled that someone was definitely smiling
on the Theta Xi brothers.
The weekend was kicked off with a barbecue at a
beautiful cabin along the Loyalsock Creek. The
following morning, the brothers spent time together
on the golf course at Williamsport Country Club or
visiting some of the local attractions. On Friday night,
the fun continued with a ride down the Susquehanna
River aboard the Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat,
featuring cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres. On Saturday,
Alexander hosted a breakfast at the farm in the morning and a steak dinner on the farm in the evening,
which ended with about two hours of singing old
fraternity and patriotic songs led by John Kwap on
the piano.

By Sunday morning, when everyone planned to leave,
it was hard to depart as no one seemed ready for the
weekend to end. Brother Hank Bittmann drove out
Once the word began to travel among the brothers,
of his way after the reunion to stop by Indiana Tech
a team of dedicated men soon began working to
and take pictures of the campus to send out to all
make this reunion a reality. Ron Kantorak and Jim
of his Theta Xi brothers. One brother’s wife, Judy
Frazier spent many hours in the planning process,
Andreef, summed up the reunion weekend this way,
including doing internet research to locate addresses “I have been very fortunate to have experienced many
of as many brothers as possible. Alexander generwonderful moments in my life, but this weekend is
ously offered to play host to the four-day weekend at one of the best! Watching [my husband] John enjoyhis farm near Williamsport.
ing himself and being so happy spending time among
the brothers was priceless!”
In the end, 47 Theta Xi brothers and more than 30
spouses or significant others made the trip from all
Great memories of days gone by were shared, such as
over the country to meet in Williamsport. Most of
the famous Greek Week activities, which included
the brothers attended Tech in the mid- to late 1960s. chariot races around the campus. Kantorak recalled
The combined male body weight was 10,575 pounds pulling the chariot with Hayzer. “I thought I was
as compared to the 7,285 pounds that they would
going to die,” Kantorak said. “When we came around
have combined for in their days at Indiana Tech.
the corner of the Anthony Building (now the CunDuring this reunion weekend, the brothers conningham Business Center), we could feel the wind
sumed 141 gallons of beer and 865 pounds of food.
pushing against us at about 60 miles per hour, and we
At least four dozen golf balls were lost, although
had to run uphill against that wind to the finish.”
10

The brothers spent long hard hours studying during the
week and even longer hours partying on the weekends.
There was a real sense of community and camaraderie
that is sometimes missed by todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generation.
It was a different time when most of the brothers
were on the campus of Indiana Tech. Many of them
were taking classes at the height of the Vietnam War.
Students worked very hard during the week on their
school work as well as holding down a job, so the
time spent together with the brothers of Theta Xi on
the weekends was a welcome change of pace. Sure,
there were many moments of hysterical high jinks,
good-natured pranks, and not a small consumption

of adult beverages, but these brothers also provided
each other with encouragement, much-needed stressrelief, and a drive for excellence. And, if those who
came to the reunion were any indication, Indiana
Tech and the fraternity of Theta Xi were the impetus
to great career and financial success.
Many things have changed over the years. In fact, a
church now sits on the property where the old twin
houses of Theta Xi once proudly stood. But while
the landscape around the campus of Indiana Tech
has changed, and most of the buildings are no longer
standing, one thing remains true: the Theta Xi men
will be brothers until the end!

Volume 7, Issue 1

Fall 2010

11

HOMECOMING 2010

Alumni Award Winners

G.O.L.D. (Graduate of the Last
Decade Award)

Mary Alice Cordova, BSIME 2001
While a student at Indiana Tech, Cordova was captain of the varsity women’s soccer team, president of
Delta Alpha Nu sorority, involved in student mentor
programs and the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers, and served as a resident assistant. She also
had internships at Stryker Medical Instruments in
Kalamazoo, Mich., and WaterFurnace International
in Fort Wayne.

After graduating, Cordova accepted a job offer at the
BF Goodrich plant in Woodburn, as an industrial engineer. She continued her involvement with Indiana
Tech by serving as an assistant coach for the women’s
soccer team. Her continued relationship with Tech
was the impetus for starting an internship program
at BF Goodrich focused on students from Indiana
Tech. Cordova currently works at Dannon Corp. in
Minster, Ohio, and has volunteered her time to serve
on the Warrior Club advisory board. Her community
service also includes the American Red Cross, Girl
Scouts, the March of Dimes, Senior Education Programs, Boys and Girls Club, and United Way.

12

Trends

College of Professional Studies
Alumnus of the Year
Simon Short, MBA 2008

Short earned a bachelor’s degree in both management and human resource management from Ball
State University, and then continued his education
by earning an MBA at Indiana Tech. He is a certified senior professional in human resources, and he
has been very successful in his profession, first with
Guardian Automotive and currently with Navistar.
He is also a member of the Northeast Indiana Human
Resource Association (NIHRA) and the Society for
Human Resource Management (SHRM). Short has
offered generous amounts of time and expertise to
Indiana Tech students through events such as mock
interviews and career fairs at the Career Planning and
Development Center. Having someone of this caliber
available to provide advice and assistance has been an
invaluable asset to Tech and our students.

Alumni Volunteer of the Year
Greg Lynch, BSCE 1981

Lynch uses his Indiana Tech education in the greater
Fort Wayne area as vice president of engineering at
Almet, Inc. in New Haven. He currently serves on the
Alumni Board where he is a two-time past president,
and he was the alumni representative to the Board of
Trustees for seven years. He also serves as chairperson
of the TWIST golf outing committee. He is a frequent
visitor to campus for meetings, sporting events, Homecoming, and just about every other alumni event. He
has assisted with the planning and management of our
Warrior Athletic Hall of Fame banquets, and through
his successful career and community involvement, he is
an ambassador for Indiana Tech in the community.

From 1960 through 1983, Gill devoted his talents
to Magnavox Corporation, first here in Fort Wayne
and later in California. He held a number of positions with increasing responsibilities, from manager
of engineering and manager of program management
to director of industrial products, director of marine
products and director of operations.

Gill has always been interested in acquiring more
knowledge, so during his time with Magnavox he
also earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from
Pepperdine University.
Gill later moved on to become president of the Ball
Corp.’s Industrial Systems Division where he created
a new industrial instruments and systems business.
In the 1980s, Gill and his wife, Lois, moved to the
Boulder, Colo., area, where he continued his career
success. He has held senior level positions at a number
of prestigious companies such as Frontier Corp., where
he was senior vice president and president. His expertise
in taking companies to the highest level is also shown in
his work as a venture partner in Appian Ventures from
2003 through the present, and as principal for the Topaz
Group. Gill founded this consulting firm in 1996, and it
is going strong, providing consulting services, mentoring
and direction for high tech private equity groups and
emerging public and private companies.
Indiana Tech has benefited from Gill’s expert
perspective as a member of the university’s Board
of Trustees since July 2009. He has been a generous
donor to the university throughout the years. At
the beginning of the Momentum campaign, Bob
and Lois established a scholarship program to make
education possible for many students throughout the
coming decades.

Volume 7, Issue 1

Fall 2010

13

HOMECOMING 2010
Alumni Banquet

80th Anniversary Gala

14

Trends

HOMECOMING 2010
Alumni Baseball Game

Alumni Softball Game

Cruise-In

Twist XXI

Volume 7, Issue 1

Fall 2010

15

Warrior Athletics

Warriors Will Add Wrestling
Team in 2011
Indiana Tech will
add wrestling to
its growing lineup
of intercollegiate
athletic teams
in the 2011–12
academic year.
“We’re fortunate to be a thriving university,
and the addition of wrestling will help us
reach out to another segment of potential
students who would like to continue their
athletic careers at the college level,” said
President Arthur E. Snyder.
The university plans to name a coach for
the program sometime this fall. Students
interested in competing on Indiana Tech’s
wrestling team can fill out a prospect
form online at www.IndianaTech.edu/
athletics/wrestling.
With the addition of wrestling, Indiana
Tech will have 20 varsity sports teams
(baseball, men’s and women’s basketball,
men’s and women’s bowling, men’s and
women’s cross country, men’s and women’s
golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and
women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and
field, women’s volleyball, and wrestling) as
well as competitive cheer and dance teams.
Warriors Honored for Academics

Seven Warrior teams were honored when
the National Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics (NAIA) announced the Scholar
16

Trends

Team Awards in August. The seven teams
were women’s tennis (3.62 GPA), men’s
tennis (3.49), women’s volleyball (3.41),
women’s soccer (3.26), men’s soccer (3.12),
baseball (3.10), and softball (3.03).
The women’s tennis, men’s tennis, and men’s
soccer teams were the only teams in their
respective sports to earn the award in the
Wolverine — Hoosier Athletic Conference.
For a team to be considered for the NAIA
Scholar Team Award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average as defined
by the institution. The team GPA must
include all varsity student-athletes certified
as eligible.
New Coaches Join Tech Team
Warrior athletics will welcome a few new
coaches this year:

Al Grushkin will
use three decades of
coaching, recruiting
and scouting experience to lead the men’s
basketball team. Since
2008, Grushkin
has been evaluating
college prospects for
the NBA as a scout
Al Grushkin
for Marty Blake and
Associates. Prior to
moving into the scouting role, he was first
assistant coach at Arkansas State University from 2006 to 2008 and served as
interim head coach at the end of the 2008
season. Grushkin’s additional coaching
experience includes six years as head coach
at University of the Incarnate Word and
assistant coaching positions at University
of Texas, Idaho State University, Western

Illinois University, University of Arkansas,
University of Tulsa, and Georgia State
University.

an HCAC conference champion as part
of the 4 x 400 meter relay and individually
was runner-up in the open 400.

Josh Wolfe will be
head coach of the
men’s and women’s
cross country teams.
Wolfe is USATF
level 1 certified and
recently completed
a master’s degree in
sport administration from Ball State
Josh Wolfe
University. While a
graduate assistant at
BSU, he became a published author in the
Indiana Association for Health, Physical
Education, Recreation and Dance peerreviewed journal for his research on youth
physical recreation. As an athlete, Wolfe
was an All-Conference runner at NCAA
Division-III Manchester and a three-time
all-state runner at DeKalb High School
(Waterloo, IN).

Bowlers Ready to Roll
Pins will be crashing this fall when men’s
and women’s bowling teams debut as the
newest Warriors. Coach Larry Secrist has
23 bowlers ready to compete against about
45 other collegiate teams. The first tournament was October 16 to 17.

After two seasons as
an assistant coach,
Doug Edgar has
stepped up to the role
of head coach of the
men’s and women’s
track and field teams.
He is USATF Level
2 certified in sprints,
hurdles, and relays. In Doug Edgar
his athletic career, Edgar was a three-time
All-State runner at Concordia Lutheran
High School. He currently still owns the
school record as part of the sprint medley
and 4 x 400 relay teams. He went on to
attend Anderson University where he was

Secrist coached for the U.S. Army from
1998 to 2005 and guided the program to
two Interservice Championships. In addition, three of his bowlers were selected to
the U.S. Army World Wide Team in 1999,
2000 and 2001. In his most recent position, Secrist coached the bowling program
at Carroll High School where he worked
with several bowlers who competed at the
state championship level.
Judy Excels
for Indians’
Farm Teams

Former Warrior
pitcher Josh Judy
helped the Columbus
Clippers capture the
Class AAA championship in September and
has been assigned to
Josh Judy
play winter ball in the
Dominican Republic.
The right-handed reliever started the 2010
season with Class AA Akron, but was
promoted to Columbus in mid-May. In 47
innings for the Clippers, Judy was 3-0 with
a 2.68 ERA, 55 strikeouts and 2 saves. The
Cleveland Indians drafted him in 2007.

Volume 7, Issue 1

Fall 2010

17

Ethical Business Leadership Center

Guides Students Toward Success with Integrity
Indiana Tech’s “Live. Learn. Lead.” tagline declares
the university’s status as a place where students
learn to be leaders in their fields. Professors are in
the process of incorporating a leadership component into every course, and leadership degrees are
offered at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral
levels: associate and bachelor’s degrees in business
administration, bachelor’s in organizational leadership, master of business administration, master’s in
organizational leadership, master’s in engineering
management, master’s in police administration, and
the Ph.D. in Global Leadership.
As students develop leadership skills involving
management tactics, organizational policies, strategy
implementation, confidence in presentation, etc., they
also must understand that ethical behavior is one of
the most important requirements of good leadership.
Indiana Tech recognizes that all students must have
an understanding of what constitutes ethical behavior
for those in leadership roles and how to attain and
maintain the expected standards amidst challenges
in the business world. Unfortunately, there have been
notable examples in recent headlines of leaders who
have failed in this respect. Indiana Tech’s courses and
degrees counter that influence.
The mindset of ethical leadership is emphasized as
vital in each student’s chosen profession, and also in
their family life, personal interactions, and involvement in charitable and civic organizations.
To expand on this commitment to integrity, Indiana
Tech has established the Ethical Business Leadership Center. The first stage of the development of
the center, funded by a gift from the Carlie Cun-

18

Trends

ningham Foundation, consists of a speakers series,
a resource center, and a web site. Offerings will
include presentations, workshops, and digital and
hard copy resources about the responsibilities of
ethical leadership.
The Speakers

Twice a year, Ph.D. in Global Leadership students
come to the main campus for an intensive residency
program. During these immersion weekends, there
will be presentations by nationally respected leaders known for their integrity as well as their success.
Speakers may address topics related to ethics in leadership, as well as other special issues about leadership
in general, such as the challenges faced by women and
minorities in attaining and maintaining leadership
roles, and the differences between leadership styles in
the United States and other nations. The university’s
master’s and undergraduate business students will be
able to attend these presentations as well. Presentations can be recorded for web posting and shared via
videoconference at the university’s satellite locations
around the state.

The Resources

Within the university’s McMillen Library a special
section is being devoted to house reference materials
about leadership, business, and ethics. These resources will be both digital (e.g., searchable databases,
tutorials, e-journals, etc.) and hard copy materials.
The physical collection will include books, journals
and assessment tools. Digital references will be accessible at the satellite campuses as well.

The Website
A special website is being developed for the Ethical

Business Leadership Center. This web site will be
a portal through which resources can be accessed
and information disseminated to students. It will
provide for a video library; links to publications;
information about conferences, seminars, and scholarships; contact information for the center and
faculty; links to other ethical business centers in the
United States and other countries; and discussion
boards, blogs, and forums where students around
the world can post comments about issues of interest. Current research statistics and papers will be
posted. In fact, the website holds the potential for
Indiana Tech’s doctoral students to post their own
research on the site, taking their place alongside
well known business leaders to serve as a resource
for others.
The Future Influence of the Center

As the Ethical Business Leadership Center continues
to grow and influence, future phases will involve
establishing a larger space on campus to house programs and resources, and expansion of the program
into a more broad-based initiative. Focus groups,
discussion groups, mentoring activities, and webinars
can be implemented.
The university’s vision for the center is that eventually
it will be even more influential in a public sense, with
outreach into community schools, leadership newsletters, conferences for businesspeople, awards presented
to acknowledge ethical leaders, and other developmental activities.
Indiana Tech’s reputation has always been strong. Now,
it continues with even more emphasis as the educator
for leaders with integrity.

Dr. Kenneth Rauch
is the director of
Indiana Tech’s Ph.D.
in Global Leadership
program and is an
associate professor
in the College of
Business. He is
Dr. Kenneth
Rauch
excited about the
ways the Ethical
Business Leadership Center will
benefit students and others.
“The center is premised on the
belief that business ethics lie at
the core of a productive market
system,” Rauch states. “The center
will be a conduit for thoughtful
analysis of important ethical
problems in business. It will
influence Tech students to become
competent and responsible
business citizens. Ultimately, it
will offer visibility of ethical issues
among not only our students,
faculty and staff, but also for the
greater community — even the
global community.”

Volume 7, Issue 1

Fall 2010

19

Dr. Dennis J. Gayle
›› Vice President of Academic Affairs
›› Fellow, American Council on Education
›› Ph.D. in International Political Economy, UCLA
›› Master of Arts in Political Science, UCLA
›› Master of Science in International Relations, London
School of Economics and Political Science
›› Bachelor of Arts in Economics, English and Spanish,
University of the West Indies

20

Trends

International
Infusion
Dr. Gayle Brings Global Vision
to Academic Leadership
There are some in Fort Wayne
who long to see the world. Dr.
Dennis J. Gayle, on the other
hand, has seen the world and
seems quite content to settle
in Fort Wayne.

“London is, of course, a major cosmopolitan city with
a history and culture that intrigues people all over the
world,” he says. “But it has its minuses, too – traffic,
getting from place to place, even with the Tube. It’s
not feasible to keep a car, so you have to cope with
public transportation and its flaws.”
He also notes that London today is much different
from what it was like when he lived there during the
‘70s, calling it an “elbow society” and gesturing with
elbows shoving left and right.

Gayle joined Indiana Tech as the vice president of aca- “It’s become a ‘me first’ society, with people focused on
demic affairs in late June, bringing the university exeither getting ahead or simply coping with challenges,”
tensive experience and expertise in academic program he explains. “In Fort Wayne, people are sociable and
development, student retention, faculty development, friendly, generally a different type of society.”
organizational development, and international business, economics, and marketing.
As friendly as Fort Wayne is, he didn’t come here just
to be social. He saw the position at Indiana Tech as a
“Dr. Gayle comes to Indiana Tech with outstanding unique opportunity to return to more involvement in
experience as a faculty member, academic adminacademics at an institution that is headed in the right
istrator and team-builder,” President Arthur E.
direction. “I was fascinated by the focus on relationSnyder said in announcing the appointment. “Adship-based education and the way it is systematically
ditionally, he has an impressive background as an
applied at Indiana Tech,” he says.
international educator.”
Having firsthand experience of the day-to-day chalAlthough he was born in Jamaica, Gayle’s translenges of university administration as a president
Atlantic education and international careers in
himself, he also was impressed with Indiana Tech’s
banking, diplomacy, project management confiscal stability.
sultancy and higher education have taken him to
most countries around the globe, living at various
“When I looked at higher education in the United
times in England, France, the West Indies, and the
States, I saw so many institutions having financial
United States and guest lecturing at universities
challenges,” he explains. “I recognized Indiana Tech
around the world. He was president of American
as being well-managed and avoiding those problems.”
InterContinental University in London, England,
just prior to joining Indiana Tech. He chuckles
Returning to a role with an academic focus allows
briefly when asked about adjusting from London
him to concentrate on what he finds most satisfying
to Fort Wayne.
in higher education.
Volume 7, Issue 1

Fall 2010

21

“I gained the most satisfaction from academic is“There are students who need extra help in math or
sues—working with faculty, program development, English; there are students who need more intensive
and curriculum issues,” he says. “The demands of
academic advising; and there are students at a higher
being president were taking me away from what I
level of achievement who need opportunities to
enjoyed most.”
grow,” he says, providing examples of students’ varied
needs. “We need to work with faculty to engage with
Gayle will lead and manage all aspects of academic
students at the level most appropriate for them.”
affairs, while expanding and continuously updating
the scope of academic programs.
In addition to his academic responsibilities, Gayle is
keenly interesting in working with the admissions of“First and foremost, my goal is to enhance academic
fice on student recruitment, particularly significantly
quality by a process of continuous improvement,” he
increased international enrollment. His motivation
explains. “It doesn’t happen by fits and starts, but by
in this is two-fold: expanding Indiana Tech’s recruitsystematic and inclusive collaboration.”
ment pool in general, but also improving co-curricular education for the university’s U.S. born students.
He plans to work closely with the deans, faculty
and Faculty Senate committees to address academ- “Most careers will have an international component,
ic improvement in several areas such as revising
and it is very important for students to engage in
the program review system to ensure that every
extensive cross-cultural communication and networkprogram, whether in traditional or online format,
ing on campus,” he says.
is subject to robust evaluation at least once every
three years; eliminating academic programs that
Further development of education options abroad
are no longer viable; developing new programs
also will help students gain a global perspective.
based on student needs and marketplace viability;
and expanding faculty engagement in seeking ex“We’re hoping to work with international alumni to
ternal funding for projects through grant developopen the doors to more education abroad opportuniment for academic initiatives.
ties,” he shares. “I’m glad we’ve had some focus, and I
look forward to it increasing.”
Gayle also will work on improving retention
rates from year to year through enhancement
With so many initiatives and ideas on the horizon,
of Indiana Tech’s strategy of engagement with
Gayle is certain that Indiana Tech is the place for
students, by improving the synergies between all
him to be.
related programs and services in a structured way,
supporting related faculty and staff development, “After three months, it’s timely to reflect: Was this the
while monitoring student satisfaction levels more right thing for me to do?” he says, smiling. “I have no
systematically and inclusively.
doubt that it was.”
22

Alum Korinda Walls (left) races against
the clock to rescue a beached dolphin.

What degree do you pursue when you
want to spark action in others about
the environment?

her environmental education, she is now
able to help others find their niche in
environmental activism.

Korinda Walls (BA ‘08) has always been
passionate about environmental activism
and sustainability. She knew, however,
that passion alone could not bring about
change in a community. Walls maintains,
“Sustainability is about making people
happy. It is about relatability.” Walls
believes that relatability plays two roles
in bringing about sustainability.

Walls graduated from Indiana Tech summa cum laude and was named to Who’s
Who Among Students in American
Universities & Colleges. She, like many
college graduates around the United
States, accentuated her college education with further preparation through
AmeriCorps.

First, she believes that environmental
activists need to connect with people to
inspire them to become active. A degree
in psychology was the logical choice to
provide her the background she would
need to be that sort of catalyst. Second,
Walls believes that people must have
a relationship with the environment
to become active. She argues that the
environment can be affected by a broad
spectrum of issues, including medical
waste disposal, cleaning product choices,
and recycling building materials. Walls
focused her degree by hand-selecting
environment-oriented classes, which
resulted in a specialization called ecopsychology. She contends that “everything
is environmental” and that this specialization is key in her field. By expanding

Volume 7, Issue 1

With more than 574,000 alumni, AmeriCorps is an organization whose programs, it seems, should be well known.
Surprisingly, few people are aware of the
role it plays in our society and in launching the careers of many young people.
AmeriCorps places people with local and
national level nonprofit groups, where
they provide public service. There is a
wide range of service areas, including
public education and environmental protection. In exchange, the members generally receive financial awards for education,
basic living expenses, and student loan
forbearance. The program also provides
career training and certification in service
skills. Since its inception in 1994, the
program has invested more than $5.7 billion in community organizations.

Fall 2010

23

Alum Korinda Walls (above left
and below right) works to rescue
stranded dolphins.

Walls says, “I have always known that this
(environmental action) was my obligation.” She explains that AmeriCorps provided her with an opportunity to fulfill
her obligations while “providing a sense of
community with like-minded people.”

served at the Cape Cod Cooperative
Extension, promoting its hazardous materials program. Her mailings contributed
to a 40% increase in participation in the
program, which collected mercury devices,
medical sharps, and perchlorate flares.

Korinda Walls was one of the AmeriCorps members mobilizing more than
2.2 million volunteers within their communities in 2008. Walls chose AmeriCorps Cape Cod as her host, where she
spent 3,400 hours over two years performing environmental service and advocacy.
The self-described “tree hugger” planted
beach grass, assisted shellfish propagation,
removed invasive plants, and educated
elementary students. Walls also received
certification in chainsaw operation and
maintenance from her adventures in fire
prevention. Perhaps the highlight of her
stay was studying the behavior of dolphins
that had beached themselves and then
helping to save them. The job allowed her
to put her love for psychology, animals
and planet Earth to good use.

Walls admits that, despite these experiences, she questioned whether she would
find a niche in her field upon leaving the
AmeriCorps position. Fortunately, a job
fair at Indiana Tech that she had attended
months earlier would prove to be a key
factor in her employment search. She
had attended the fair in order to practice
interviewing and get some exposure with
local companies. Aware that this particular fair was geared mainly toward engineering, she decided to put her resume
away and simply practice networking. She
asked each recruiter, “What is your company doing to help the environment?”

Lest you think Walls spent her entire
AmeriCorps residency in Carhartts and
knee deep in sand, she explains that much
of her time was spent in an office. Walls

24

Trends

Most of the recruiters replied that they
had a recycling program or were working to reduce energy costs. That was not
enough for Walls’ taste, although she
had expected such answers. So she was
surprised when one recruiter’s eyes lit up
at her question. A representative from
Fort Wayne Metals eagerly explained

their search for the perfect Green Initiative
intern. “It sounded great, but at the time, I
knew that joining AmeriCorps was the right
opportunity, at the right time,” Walls said.
When she returned from her two-year
commitment with AmeriCorps, however,
she followed up with Fort Wayne Metals.
The company had expanded its environmental program and invited Walls to join
the team.
Korinda Walls is now the sustainability
coordinator at Fort Wayne Metals. For a
woman raised, as she put it, on “a healthy
regimen of John Denver albums and Marty
Stouffer nature shows,” this position is
perfect. She is thankful for the culture of
environmental action Fort Wayne Metals
possesses; owner Scott Glaze drives a Prius
and his daughter has involvement in environmental studies.
Walls extended her appreciation to Indiana
Tech for allowing her the freedom to specialize her degree. She states, “I use my degree
every single day!” While she sometimes
found it difficult to be the only one forging this path on campus at that time, it also
showed her what a demand there is, in every
career field, for passion.

After bringing it down, alum Korinda Walls bucked and limbed
an oak tree.

Volume 7, Issue 1

Fall 2010

25

Richter’s Notes

GOAL MET… GOAL RESET!
Four years ago, the planning began for Indiana Tech’s
current comprehensive fundraising campaign. A campaign planning committee was formed, the university’s needs were assessed, potential supporters were
consulted, and a case statement was drafted.
The Momentum campaign was announced on September 18, 2008, at the annual President’s Club dinner
held at the Fort Wayne Country Club. To loud applause and cheers, President Arthur Snyder announced
that the university would be raising $19 million. As he
outlined the key fundraising goals, he talked about the
dramatic benefits for students that would emerge from
successfully completing this effort.
He told the assembled President’s Club members that
the campaign was slated to run through June 2012;
however, he quickly added that “we’re not going
to be satisfied with a goal of $19 million. I would
expect that we would exceed that goal, exceed it fairly
quickly, and reset the goal.”
Mark Richter,
vice president
of Institutional
Advancement,
welcomes your
calls and visits.
You can reach him
at 800.937.2448,
ext. 2346, or stop
by his office in
the Uytengsu
Administration
Center.

In addition to improvements that you can see and
touch, there is an equally impressive list of new scholarships and program funds that have originated within
the campaign that directly benefit our students.

We are now at the point Dr. Snyder predicted. At the
Board of Trustees meeting on September 17, 2010, he
reported that the campaign has been a great success
and has now raised $22 million.

At the gala, Dr. Snyder said, “While we celebrate and
most definitely appreciate these results, we will not
just stop and rest here. Because what these results tell
us is that this university is held in such high esteem,
that so many others see the vision too, that we must
keep moving forward. So, yesterday our Board of
Trustees voted to set a new goal. By the end of the
campaign in June 2012, we plan to reach $25 million.”

With 21 months remaining in the campaign, the
Board of Trustees decided to raise the goal to
$25 million. Dr. Snyder announced the new goal
to the large and enthusiastic crowd that gathered for
Indiana Tech’s 80th Anniversary Gala on September
18, 2010.

So, our work remains unfinished, and it will always be
so. Education is a dynamic, vigorous, and purposeful
activity. Every day that passes is an opportunity to
positively impact the lives of our students. Our promise to our supporters is that we will do everything
possible to faithfully discharge our responsibility.

There is quite an impressive list of campus improvements that have been accomplished during the
campaign. Here are just a few of the larger projects

We recognize that many have contributed to Indiana
Tech’s success, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation to all who have joined us in this noble cause.

Trends

Alumni Updates
►► Ed Loescher, BSChE 1964, retired and is now an instructor

at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University after earning a
master’s degree in aeronautical science.

►► Deb Salyer, BSACC 2005, has joined BKD Technologies Mi-

crosoft Dynamics AX as a senior consultant.
►► Robert Bruce Laudermilk, MSM 2007, is a professor and chef

►► Paul Bossert, BSChE 1974, is recently retired from DuPont

instructor at Woosong University, Woosong Culinary Academy in South Korea.

as vice president of global operations-Solae.
►►Andrea Robinson Hinsey, MBA 2003, was recently appointed

dean of the School of Business at Ivy Tech Community College–
Northeast. She also is pursuing a doctorate through Ball State
University’s Adult Higher and Community Education program.
►► Tammy Harris, BSBA 2005, was named

Outstanding Customer Service Representative of the Year for the state of
Indiana. The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research will choose
four national finalists and one national
winner from among the state winners.
Harris is assistant manager of the customer service center at Brotherhood
Mutual Insurance Co. in Fort Wayne, Ind.,
and is pursuing an MBA at Indiana Tech.

In Memoriam

Tammy Harris,
BSBA 2005

►► Russell Goodman, BSACC 2010, is an internal revenue agent

with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
►► In September, Dr.

Snyder and his wife
Camille hosted
Manuel Pena-Morros and his wife
Francia during their
visit to Indiana Tech.
Manuel is chairman of the board
of Banco Leon, the
largest bank in the
Dominican Republic.
He attended Tech in the mid 1960s.

We have learned of the deaths of the following alumni and friends.

Inspired by the phrase “driven to refusal,” Stephen J. Trusik (BSEE ‘58) has made a generous memorial gift to Indiana Tech in honor
of friend and classmate Peter T. Nortman (BSEE ‘57) who passed away June 30, 2010. If you would like to send a memorial gift to
honor someone, please contact Michael Peterson at 800.937.2448, ext. 2418.

Indiana Tech is proud to welcome two new members to the
Board of Trustees. The appointments were effective July 1.

Connie Scott, director of McMillen Library, was elected President of the Indiana Black Librarians Network. She will serve the
2010–12 term.

Lawrence H. Lee: Lee is president and owner of Leepoxy
Plastics and Midwest Epoxy Applicators. He earned a
bachelor’s degree at Indiana University and a law degree at
Harvard University. Lee has served on numerous education
advisory boards and task forces including the President’s
Advisory Council at Indiana University–Bloomington; Hoosiers for Higher Education; the Advisory Council of the
School of Business and Management Sciences at IPFW; and
Fort Wayne Future. He also has served on the boards of
several organizations including Fort Wayne Boys and Girls
Club, Fort Wayne Sports Corp., Three Rivers Festival, Fort
Wayne Dance Collective, and USA Track and Field National
Foundation. He is a member of Fort Wayne Business Forum,
Fort Wayne Downtown Rotary, and Fort Wayne Track Club.
He has been inducted into the Distinguished Alumni Hall of
Fame at South Side High School (Fort Wayne) and the IPFW
Athletics Hall of Fame and was awarded the IU Alumni Association President’s Award, the highest award given by the
IUAA to alumni volunteers.
Jeffrey L. Walls, Ed.D., SPHR: Walls is the faculty representative
to the Board of Trustees and has been a professor of business administration at Indiana Tech since 1989. He earned a
bachelor’s degree in marketing at Indiana University, an MBA
in finance at University of Saint Francis, and a doctorate in education at Ball State University. Walls was certified as a Senior
Professional in Human Resources through the Society of Human
Resource Management (SHRM) in 1994, recertified in 1997, and
earned the Certified Professional for Life designation in 2000.
He is faculty advisor for the Indiana Tech student chapter of
SHRM and Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He has won numerous awards from the university, including the 2009–10 Faculty
Member of the Year.

Verduce, Scott Write Book
Chapter
The Association of College and Research
Libraries has accepted a proposal for a
book chapter by Cindy Verduce, director of the Career Planning & Development
Center, and Connie Scott, director of
McMillen Library. The chapter will be
included in the upcoming ACRL publication Environments for Student Growth
and Development: Libraries and Student
Cindy Verduce
Affairs in Collaboration. The chapter by
Verduce and Scott is titled “Career Center
and Library Collaborations: Preparing Students for Employment
in the Twenty-First Century Workplace.”

28

Trends

Two Tech Employees Complete
Leadership Fort Wayne
Nicole Scott and Connie Scott graduated from Leadership
Fort Wayne in May. The Leadership Fort Wayne program
consists of nine full-day programs (September through May),
an opening two-day retreat, a closing retreat, opportunities
for hands-on experience, and an internship on a not-for-profit
board of directors.

McGrade Earns ABD
Susan McGrade, associate professor of
English, has successfully defended her
dissertation proposal at Indiana University
of Pennsylvania. Her proposal, The Ways
of White Women: Literary and Pedagogical Responses to Blackness, examines
Langston Hughes’ first collection of short
stories, The Ways of White Folks, as well as
its pedagogical implications, particularly
for white women who teach multicultural
Susan McGrade
curricula in multicultural classrooms. The
successful defense earned McGrade A.B.D.
designation. She expects to complete the dissertation and earn
the Ph.D. in Literature and Criticism in fall 2011.
McGrade was a presenter at “Changing Faces of Education,” the
2010 Great Lakes Region II Professional Development and
Leadership Conference of Pi Lambda Theta, the International
Honor Society and Professional Association in Education. The
conference was held at IPFW in September.

Joyner’s Scouts Win Again
Indiana Tech’s Explorer Post 2829, led by physics professor
Dr. Rex Joyner, continued its medal-winning streak at the
National Robotics Challenge in Marion, Ohio, in April. The group
has won at least one award at the National Robotics Challenge
or its predecessor competitions every year since 1996. Ten entries in four different categories resulted in one gold award, two
silvers, and one bronze this year. Exploring is a division of the
Boy Scouts and is open to young people, both boys and girls,
of high school age. Indiana Tech’s Explorer Post is devoted to
engineering in general and robotics in particular and has existed
since 1995.

Hundersmarck Publishes and Presents
Dr. Steve Hundersmarck’s paper “Synthesizing Qualitative
Studies: A Report on Three Different Types of Synthesis” has
been published in the Kentucky Journal of Anthropology and

Sociology. Hundersmarck, director of the Center for
Criminal Sciences, presented a paper and delivered
the conference address at the Police Society for
Problem Based Learning symposium at Virginia
Beach, Va., on September 16 and 17.

Napper Chosen for Leadership Program
Maurice Napper, developmental specialist in Student
Support Services, has been selected for the MidAmerica Association of Educational Opportunity
Program Personnel Emerging Leaders Institute. The
Emerging Leaders Institute is a yearlong leadership
development program designed to inspire and cultivate strong leadership within the association.

Rauch is Keynote Speaker
Dr. Kenneth Rauch, director of
the Ph.D. in Global Leadership,
has several upcoming presentations including: Exploring the
Emerging Leadership Culture
Within a “Flattened” Global Environment, the keynote speech
at Global Leadership – IUPUI’S
Project Leadership, at Indiana
University–Purdue University in
Dr. Kenneth
Indianapolis; Cultural Dimension Rauch
Consideration in Global Human
Resource Policy Implementation, a training lecture, at
the Human Resource Certification Institute in Miami,
Fla.; Exploring the Integration of an Emotional Intelligence and Servant Leadership Mindset as a Model
for Effective Leadership Practice, at the Multi-Sector
Forum, Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence, at
Indiana University; and Global Leadership…Gateway
to the Future, at the Northeast Indiana Human Resource Association Conference at IPFW.

Several Staff Members Are Promoted
Deborah Agler has been promoted to executive
director of university communications.
Three members of the admissions team for Indiana
Tech’s traditional program recently earned promotions. Maria Reichhart and Brook Ringenberg are
now assistant directors of admission. Sarah Rodriquez is now a senior admissions counselor.

napolis
►►John Reni, assistant professor of mechanical engineering
►►Angela Schuricht, assistant professor of English
►► Robert Stash, admissions representative, College of Professional

Studies—Greenwood
►►Joshua Wolfe, cross country coach

Lisa Green was promoted to financial aid counselor

Volume 7, Issue 1

Fall 2010

29

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WA RRIORS

Hall of Fame Coming in March
Mark your calendar now for the new
Warrior Athletic Hall of Fame Weekend
coming this spring!
March 25 to 27, 2011 will be filled with many great
athletic events and activities, including the Athletic Hall
of Fame induction ceremony and banquet at Bergstaff
Place on Saturday, March 26. If you would like to nominate someone for inclusion in the 2011 Hall of Fame
class, please send names and accomplishments to Mike
Peterson, director of alumni relations, at mepeterson@
indianatech.edu.
The weekend will kick-off with a reception and tailgate party on Friday, March 25, followed by a night
men’s lacrosse game. Saturday will include an alumni
women’s soccer game and home women’s lacrosse and
softball games. On Sunday, March 27, participants can
enjoy home baseball and women’s lacrosse games in
addition to the family-friendly Second Annual Warrior
Run for One event. More information will be coming
your way soon!